Occupation of a family counsellor is still very poorely known in Lithuania. Family counsellor training is still nonexistent in Lithuania’s universities and none qualifications such as MFT, LPCC or similar are awarded in Lithuania. Understanding of the concept of counsellors is very vague. Furthermore, in Lithuania the term used for counsellor is consultant in English showing that the understanding of counsellor’s occupation and its functions is erroneous.
Recently enacted Law on Reinforcement of Family (Šeimos stiprinimo įstatymas) provides for the necessity of family counsellors training, however, none of the study programs has been introduced yet. Further, research on the ongoing occupational standardization in Lithuania shows that in Lithuania connection between counsellors and social workers is not seen despite the fact that these two occupations are classified in one subgroup of ESCO.
Theoretical part of this research aims at explaining the concepts of family, counselling and family counsellor and then at identifying the principle parameters of occupational standard. This helps to construct the draft occupational standard of family counsellor.
Empirical part of this research aims at providing the draft standard for the expert review and then analyzing their comments (research data) to establish the validity of the draft occupational standard.
Research shows that the concept of the occupation of family counsellor is vague in Lithuania. Connection of family counsellor with other therapists is revealed. One of the most prominent difficulties in the research is to allocate the occupation of family counsellor in the occupational classification of therapists. Empirical research shows that the draft occupational standard of family counsellor is valid, however the allocation of this occupation in the system of other therapists is still obscure. Recommendation is given to work on the draft occupational standard of all therapists.